What a difference a day makes! Conditions are much improved at Battle Creek. Less than 2K open, but a fun little figure-8 with great grooming.

(John Kendrick)

Skied 9:15-11:15 am. Should have gotten out there earlier. What's open is the stadium, the top half of Prairie which gets you to the cutthrough to the climb to the Tree Loops, the less-steep outer climb to the Tree Loops (I think of it as the "B climb" since the steep one is the A climb). Then the Tree Loops and the descent back to the top of the stadium. It clocked out just under 2K - we got 19.4K for 10 loops. Almost the whole tree loop is deep mashed potatoes, along with the climb there and the descent back. The stadium and Prairie is better. All in all, not great skiing, but skiing, which is a minor miracle. Probably a microcosm of what the Birkie's going to be like if there is one, so legit training I guess, if not the most fun. Thanks to the groomers for doing what they could, I'm just happy to be able to ski.

(Jay Lyons)

Groomers opened a nice little loop with a figure-8 in back at Battle Creek. The snow is very soft but skiable. Coverage is actually pretty good but there are rough spots and some dirt.

(John Kendrick)

We have opened up a couple of trails to allow for access to the Upper and Lower Tree Loops. The route up is: Stadium>Prairie Loop until Prairie Cut-Off>Prairie Cut-Off>Cat Track>Tree Loops. The route down is: Tree Loop Return>Slip Back>Stadium. If weather and time allows, we may be able to patch up some other trails in the future. Thank you all for your patience!

(Joshua Wickert)

Stopped by Battle Creek at 9:30 this morning. The stadium is groomed, but the trails are currently closed. Crew is hard at work getting the trails back in shape and skiable. One snow gun was running. Hopeful the trails are skiable tomorrow. Many thanks to the crew for all the hard work this winter. [ While the sign clearly says 'Closed', Ramsey County groomer Joshua Wickert did groom and reported the stadium part of the trail is open -- Ed. ]

Photos:

(Mike Casserly)

The stadium area is currently groomed and usable. The rest of the trails are still in various states of repair. Grooming plans: I should be able to get additional trails open by tomorrow. Thanks!

(Joshua Wickert)

Trails remain closed today. The rain and warm weather did a number on the trails. We will be using today and tomorrow to get some snow pushed into some bare spots and rebuild some trail bases. The immediate plan is to get an access and a return from the upper loops where there is still good snow. We will be making some snow when temperatures allow. Thanks again for your patience.

(Rob Adams, Ramsey County Parks)

With the warm weather and current rain, the trails are closed. We will evaluate the state of the trails when the rain ends and make a decision then as to whether we can reasonably repair the trails or not. Thank you all so much!

(Joshua Wickert)

At an 11:00 am start with a temperature of at least 36 degrees (maybe 38 according to Google), trail conditions were good to very good, varying from frozen corduroy to light sugar to deeper corn at the climb out of the end of the North Tree Loop. At the right-hand curve at the middle of the Horseshoe Trail downhill, I think enough snert had bled thru to slow me a lot on my first lap, not as much on the second one when I kept tighter to the inside of the curve. Cowabunga was in superb condition. There was occasional bark litter at scattered spots along the tree-lined portions of the trail. This was my first time here since early in the season back in December and probably only my third time since snowmaking was added. Can't overstate how impressive a trail system it is given its small footprint and how great a job the groomers do.

(Keith Carlson)

What a beautiful morning at Battlecreek. I am amazed at the magic the groomers have pulled off this season. Snow was firm and fast this morning, 8:30 -10am. A few icy patches and spots of debris but easily avoidable. Not much sugar at the bottom of the hills.
Heartfelt thanks to the groomers! I've had such a fun season thanks to you. Good luck to the kids in sections this week!

(Kimmie Sandberg)